(Parnassius smintheus)
Parnassians
Appearance: Above, overall white to cream with bold black markings and a heavy gray edging to forewings. Red and black spots on forewing and hindwing and larger white centered red spots on upper side of the hindwing. Below, a similar pattern exists with additional red spots on the hindwing. Note blackened basal areas of the wings and the dark body. Black and white rings extend up antennae to dark clubs.
Wingspan: Medium; 1 3/4 to 2 1/2 inches.
Habitat: Open forests, meadows, and rocky clearings wherever the host plant stonecrop (Sedum) is found; foothills, montane, alpine.
Flight Times: Late May to early September; one brood. May overwinter as egg, caterpillar, or chrysalis.
Larval Foodplant: Larval form depends entirely on species of stonecrop (Sedum).
Did You Know…
The eggs are laid in summer near the host plant, Sedum, and the pupae (chrysalis) are protected by a loose cocoon among grass, leaf litter or loose soil. However, because of the harsh and shortened season the pupae might take two years to develop into an adult with eggs overwintering the first year and older larvae hibernating a second time (Pyle, 2002).
